old-houses

Old Horn s of the North Country
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— Photo slid Caption by David F.
Lane
HARRY TYLER HOUSE AT BUTTERVILLE.
Born in Connecticut Feb. 5, 1801 Harry Tyler was
Probably no Jefferson county creator in the field
son of a marine merchant who lost his ship and cargo
of art has left a better remembered or more lasting imin the Atlantic. Harry spent his early years in Millford,
pression than Harry Tyler, designer and weaver of the
Otsego county, married Ann Cole, granddaughter of a
famed Tyler coverlets Or counterpanes. For 24 years
Revolutionary hero who won the George Washington
he made them in his house at Butterville, town of
medal, and in 1830 he removed to Erie county and in
Henderson, where it abutts the town of Adams.
1832 to North Adams. Children by that marriage were
During that period he created many of them in
Cynthia, Elman, Leman and Lewis. His wife died Aug.
beautiful patterns of his own design. Some of them
27, 1843 aged 34 years, 21 days. Later he married Mary
were a combination of red and white. Others were a
Ann Dye by whom he had Beloit, Deloit, Harriet and
combination of blue and white. Only one was pure
Idese. Harry Tyler and his first wife are buried in the
white. That was a bridal gift for Cynthia, wife of his
Smithvillc cemetery.
son, Elman, and they were the parents of the late Birt
After building his house he designed and constructTyler of Henderson Harbor and of Mrs. Arthur L.
ed his looms, the coverlet loom being in the downstairs
(Etta Tyler) Chapman, city.
front room of the upright. In the room above was a
/
They were two-ply, woven in halves and sewn toloom, in which he wove ingrain carpets and he did an
' aether. The first one was produced in 1834. In 1857,
extensive business.
just 99 years ago, the last one was unfinished in his
Although it is family tradition that he bought the
loom and was completed by his daughter, Cynthia.
land where his house is in 1832, probably on contract,
I Being of English parentage his coverlets until 1850
his first deed is dated Sept. 26, 1840 and covers .75 of
bore the design of a lion in the corner. After that the
an acre from John Morris. The second parcel was ten
emblem was the American eagle with a streamer inacres deeded to him by George and Polly Penney
scribed "E Pluribus Unum." Also in a corner Avas wovMarch 7, 1844 and sold by Harry and Mary Ann Tyler
en the name of the person for whom made.
to Robert Muzzy Feb. 1, 1849, excepting .30 of an acre
Meticulously did he have his woolen yarn spun. To
for a schoolhouse. A third parcel of 2.87 acres was
Sackels Harbor did he send his son, Elman, deftest of
bought by Tyler April 1, 1847 from Joseph and Sohis assistants, on horseback to buy from Col. Elisha
phronia Withingkm and lay in the town of Adams.
Camp the indigo used to dye his blue and the cochineal
His fourth parcel of .35 of an acre was purchased from
to dye his red. And in a brightly polished brass kettle
Charles A. Benjamin Oct. 22, 1853. All but the ten-acre
in a small building back of his house, the dying was
-xlooc His sons. Elman—Lauiau and Lewis, werp h i s , parcel are now with the house.
Mrs. Mary Ann Tyler, widow of Harry Tyler, indichief assistants, but to none of them did he entrust the
vidually and as special guardian of her daughters, Besecrets of his methods. So when he died on Aug. 22,
loit and Harriet E. Tyler, minors, sold the house with
1858 aged 57 years, six months, 17 days his process
its 3.97 acres to Esther Cagwin, Henderson, on Oct. 19,
died with him.
1866. On April 3, 1871 she sold it to Daniel Babcock
Today a considerable number of Tyler coverlets
who, with Susan Babcock conveyed it to Seymour M.
still exist in good state of preservation, scrupulously
Beebee April 2, 1873. On April 5, 1895 Becbee transcared for and highly prized. His granddaughter, Mrs.
ferred it to Phoebe P. Beebee, who died intestate, leavChapman, has a fine collection of them, and another
ing Mrs. Jacob I. (Ada S.) Chrisman her only heir.
excellent collection is owned by the Jeffersou County
Mrs. Chrisman died intestate about 1928 and on Oct. 8,
Historical society.
1937 Jacob I. Chrisman, Henderson, Leola Chrisman
The house, in which he made them still stands but
of Syracuse, Alctha C. Dowkes, town of Adams, and
somewhat changed in appearance, owned by Leon S.
Harold Raymond Chrisman, Albany, her heirs and
and Minnie W. Chrisman. fnrmprlv nf Osweeo.
next of kin sold the property to Leon S. and Minnie \V.
Chrisman, the present owners. The house has been
slightly modernized with asbestos shingles on the exterior and probably in other Avays. And it should be
mentioned that Elman Tyler who died on July 21, 1906
Avent to Henderson Harbor where he early established
the Avell known Tyler's Inn so long operated as a summer hotel and which was occupied so many years by
• n l i s oo— farm in the